Nels Cline is an alien flowerpot, or so says the front page of his website, but, I actually think that may be too generous a description of his normalness…
“What a workout” was the only review I could muster after the hourlong sonic assault from this towering figure of guitar (and guitar effects) mayhem.
To be fair, there were a few moments where the band locked in to a tight, driving heavy metal type groove, and a few slower songs that teased the occasional melody, but for the most part, this was “out there” stuff that was borderline accessible.
The FAQ on his site is a great window into what you can expect from a night with Nels Cline, answering such questions as:
- IS IT HARD FOR A JAZZ/EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC WHORE TO PLAY REAL SONGS IN A REAL BAND LIKE WILCO?
- WHY DO YOU USE ALL THOSE EFFECTS PEDALS - DON’T THEY DEGRADE YOUR SOUND?
- YOU’RE LEFT-HANDED BUT YOU PLAY WITH YOUR RIGHT. WHY??
Overall I liked the performance, and this guy is certainly onto something, but it certainly took a lot out of me.
Next up, Charlie Hunter, also often (coincidentally?) described as an alien, opened his set with a couple of jazz/funk/slightly experimental tunes that, comparatively speaking, seemed like a night of straight ahead standards at the local lounge.
He was still awesome to watch (I’ve seen him play at least once a year since the mid-90’s), and it’s certainly humbling to see him play two instruments at once better than I can play either one separately, but overall, his set seemed a little flat compared to the opener.
Also noticed that his new drummer, Tony Mason, had a big rock / funk sound that didn’t leave as much room musically for Charlie to shine. Compared to Hunter’s last couple of drummers, Adam Cruz & Simon Lott, who both played with smaller, stripped down kits, Tony dominated the overall sound of the band quite a bit. Not a bad thing, just different.
But anyway, enough with the nitpicking - it’s Charlie Hunter! - the guy kills it. Already excited to check him out again next time he comes around around.
